Cricket: Auckland staggers continue

Auckland's batting woes continued as State Championship leaders Wellington took control of the opening day of their match at the Basin Reserve yesterday.

Thanks to early damage from returning international James Franklin and Mark Gillespie, Auckland were dismissed for 235 and at stumps the hosts were in good shape at 59 for one.

With the exception of captain Richard Jones, Auckland's top six offered little as Franklin and Gillespie took three wickets each and sparked a regular procession in the first two sessions.

Jones hit a breezy 47 in just over an hour on his former home ground before Gillespie had him caught behind.

Before long Auckland, last equal with Northern Districts on the points table, were staring at near-disaster at 147 for seven.

All-rounder Tim Lythe, in his fourth first-class match, embarked on a rescue mission and dug in for 174 minutes and 66 runs, passing his highest first-class score of 63.

Franklin ended Lythe's resistance when he was trapped leg before wicket after Andre Adams had helped add a rapid 50 for the eighth wicket - the highest partnership of the innings.

The innings folded in the 82nd over with Franklin taking three for 46 and Gillespie three for 66. Left-arm paceman DeWayne Bowden snared his first two first-class wickets in 11 tidy overs.

Auckland's all-international pace attack had 18 overs at the home batsmen before stumps but their only joy came when Tama Canning nicked out Luke Woodcock for 12.

Captain Matthew Bell was well set on 32 at the close.

CD v Otago

Mathew Sinclair issued a reminder to the New Zealand selectors but Otago's bowlers had the final say in New Plymouth yesterday.

Sinclair hit his 19th first-class century before Central Districts lost five wickets for 39 to leave the match in the balance at 275 for six at stumps.

After captain Jamie How won the toss at Pukekura Park and chose to bat it seemed Central had the match at their mercy.

How was caught behind for seven off Warren McSkimming in the day's third over before 25-test batsman Sinclair quickly took charge.

He and opener Geoff Barnett added 213, a Central Districts second wicket record against Otago, breaking the 193 set by Bevan Congdon and Maurice Ryan in 1968-69.

Sinclair cruised to his first century of the season, his sparkling 121 coming off 152 deliveries and including 20 fours and two sixes.

The tide turned as left-arm paceman Bradley Scott sparked the mini-collapse when he had Sinclair caught at first slip by Craig Cumming.

Canterbury v ND

Veteran allrounder Chris Harris saw Canterbury snatch back the honours that should have been Northern Districts' in Hamilton.

Harris threatened to claim an elusive five-wicket bag before ending with four for 46 off 22.1 overs. His slow-mediums slammed the brakes on the home side's innings after four of their top five batsmen passed 30 but none pushed on to three figures.

Northern scored 269, leaving Canterbury's powerful batting lineup a good chance to push for first innings points today.

- NZPA